Fayetteville firefighter who died from cancer ruled as line-of-duty death
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) – A Fayetteville firefighter who died from cancer has been ruled as a death in the line of duty, officials said Tuesday.
According to a news release from the Fayetteville Fire Department, the North Carolina Industrial Commission ruled Battalion Chief John Bowen’s death as a line-of-duty death on Jan. 27.
The last time that the fire department suffered a line-of-duty death was Firefighter David Sharp in 2000.
Tuesday marked two years since Bowen’s passing in April 2022 following a battle with colon and small intestine cancer.
“His servant leadership through the years still resonates within the Fayetteville Fire Department,” according to the news release.
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Bowen responded to 4,968 emergencies during his career, which began on Jan. 7, 2008. Fayetteville fire officials said he “experienced significant occupational exposures” that directly attributed to his cancer diagnosis.
CBS 17 previously spoke with Bowen’s family, who will now receive certain survivor benefits as a result of this ruling.
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